What if growth wasn’t about acquiring more customers... but about keeping the ones you already have?

In this episode of Reach for Growth, I sit down with Tom Burrell, Founder of Retention Coach and former SVP of Retention at DAZN, who has spent over 26 years mastering customer retention and CRM for brands like Manchester United, TalkTalk, and Digitas LBi.

We dive deep into:

- Why retention is the new growth strategy

- The simple math behind how a 5% retention boost can double profits

- How brands can stop chasing short-term wins and build lasting loyalty

- What the future of retention and CRM looks like in the era of AI

💡 About The Guest:

Tom is the founder of Retention Coach

, a consultancy helping brands drive retention-led growth. He also writes a brilliant free newsletter that breaks down actionable retention strategies every marketer should read — check it out here: 👉 https://theretentionblueprint.beehiiv.com/subscribe

🎙️ About Me, Gamal:

I’m a Growth Marketing Director turned performance marketing consultant and the host of Reach 4 Growth, a podcast where I talk with the brightest minds in marketing, e-commerce, and tech about what really drives growth.

🎧 Recorded at:

Huge shoutout to Cinixar, one of the best podcast studios in Dubai. If you’re looking for a top-tier setup for your own show, check out their website here 👉 https://cinixar.com/

💬 Drop your thoughts in the comment, do you think brands underestimate retention?

From SEO to AEO: How AI Search Engines Are Changing Everything

SEO isn’t dying, it’s evolving. In this episode of Reach for Growth, Gamal sits down with Mahmoud to unpack how AI Search Engines like ChatGPT and Perplexity are changing the rules of visibility, discovery, and organic growth.

We dive deep into AEO (Answer Engine Optimization), the next evolution of SEO, and explore how brands can prepare for an era where AI decides what people see, not Google’s blue links.

🔍 In this episode, you’ll learn:

- What AEO really is (and how it differs from SEO).

- Why AI search might be a bigger disruption than mobile ever was.

- How to make sure your brand gets cited by ChatGPT, Perplexity, or Gemini.

- Whether backlinks still matter in an AI-driven world.

- How paid and organic strategies will collide (and what that means for CAC).

- The future of discovery: who wins the visibility war, Google or AI engines?

💡 Whether you’re a founder, CMO, performance marketer, or SEO pro, this episode is your crash course in staying relevant — and profitable — in the AI era.

About the Guest – Mahmoud Nessim

Mahmoud is a digital growth and SEO expert with deep experience in search strategy, content architecture, and performance-driven organic growth. He helps brands navigate the fast-changing landscape of AI-powered search and stay ahead of the curve with AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) strategies that actually work.

🔗 Connect with Mahmoud on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mahmoud-nessim-al-amir-seo/

🎙️ About the Host – Gamal (Reach 4 Growth Podcast)

Gamal is a performance marketing and e-commerce strategist with over 14 years of experience driving growth for global brands like Nike, Under Armour, and Sun & Sand Sports. He’s the Founder of a performance marketing consultancy that helps brands make their ad budgets lean, efficient, and profitable. Through Reach 4 Growth, he shares real conversations and practical insights to help marketers evolve in the age of AI and automation.

🔗 Connect with Gamal on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/gamalgrowth

🎧 Listen on:

Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube

💬 Join the Conversation:

Drop your thoughts in the comments, do you think SEO is dead, or just reinventing itself?

الانتقال من مصر إلى دبي قد يبدو صعبًا، لكنه ليس مستحيلًا. في هذه الحلقة من سلسلة Growth Snacks ، يشارك جمال تجربته في العثور على وظيفة في دبي، وما تعلّمه خلال رحلته: ✅ أهمية التواجد المهني على لينكدإن ✅ المهارات التي أحدثت فرقًا حقيقيًا ✅ ولماذا من الضروري بناء علاقات مهنية حقيقية ليست وصفة سحرية، بل تجربة حقيقية فيها دروس بسيطة قد تساعدك في خطوتك التالية. 💡 مناسبة لـ: المهتمين بالتسويق الرقمي • الباحثين عن فرص عمل خارج مصر • أي شخص في مرحلة انتقال مهني 📩 انضم إلى مجتمع Reach 4 Growth—حيث نتعلّم من القصص الواقعية، لا من النظريات فقط.

A lot of people use the term performance marketing—but few truly understand what it means (and how it differs from traditional marketing). In this episode #5 of the Growth Snacks series, Gamal breaks down: ✅ The real definition of performance marketing (not just paid ads)✅ How it compares to traditional marketing in strategy and results✅ Why data-driven marketing turns ad spend into smart investmentIf you're running digital campaigns or leading growth and still guessing what’s working—this is your call to get clear, focused, and ROI-minded. 💡 Perfect for:Marketing leads • Startup founders • Growth teams • Anyone building digital strategy with a limited budget 🎧 Follow for more bite-sized drops on what actually drives growth.📩 Join the Reach 4 Growth community — where modern marketers level up.

A major player just stepped off the field—Temu pulled out of Google Shopping and PMax in the U.S., and it could be the start of something big for MENA advertisers. In this episode #4 of the Growth Snacks series, Gamal breaks down:

✅ What Temu’s U.S. exit means for ad auctions globally✅ Why MENA marketers should monitor Shopping & PMax impressions✅ How to test, reallocate, and move fast to reclaim ad efficiency

If your CPCs spiked last year or your Shopping performance took a hit, this might be your short-term chance to win back share—profitably.

💡 Perfect for: Performance marketers • Paid media leads • E-commerce advertisers • Anyone managing Google Ads in MENA

🎧 Follow for more bite-sized drops on what actually drives growth. 📩 Join the Reach 4 Growth community — where modern marketers level up.

GEO is evolving—and fast. Traditional tactics won’t cut it when AI-driven search engines are serving synthesized answers instead of links.

In this episode #3 from the Growth Snacks series, Gamal breaks down:

✅ Why traditional SEO is losing relevance in AI-driven searches✅ The new mindset: Don’t just rank—be quotable and context-rich✅ Tools and tactics to ensure your content is cited by AI systems

If you're still optimizing for Google instead of AI, you're already behind. It’s time to adapt and secure your spot in the AI search game. 💡 Perfect for:Content strategists • SEO specialists • Digital marketers • Anyone wanting to future-proof their visibility 🎧 Follow for more bite-sized drops on what actually drives digital visibility.📩 Join the Reach 4 Growth community — where modern marketers level up.

Secrets to $100M Desertcart Profitable Growth | Reach 4 Growth Podcast

In this podcast episode we sit down with Rahul, the founder and CEO of Desertcart, one of the few e-commerce companies in Dubai that scaled to $100M+ in annual revenue while staying profitable. Rahul shares the real story behind building a 9-figure business in the Dubai from the early chaos to the leadership transformation, and the untold levers behind profitable e-commerce growth.

🚀 In this episode, you’ll learn:

✅ The biggest myth about being a founder of a $100M business✅ How Desertcart scaled profitably in a market where others burn cash✅ What most people get wrong about e-commerce in the Middle East✅ The leadership habits that helped Rahul manage a high-growth team✅ Real advice for anyone who wants to build something meaningful

Whether you're a startup founder, marketer, or future e-commerce mogul, this conversation is full of actionable insights and hard-earned truths. 📍 About the Guest: Rahul is the founder and CEO of Desertcart, a cross-border e-commerce company based in Dubai, generating over $100M in yearly revenue. Known for his product obsession, operational depth, and resilience, Rahul breaks down what it really takes to build a sustainable online business.

🔔 Subscribe for more deep dives on marketing, growth, and building impactful businesses.

🎧 Available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

📩 Want more? Follow me on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/gamalgrowth/] for weekly content on performance marketing and e-commerce growth.

🚨 Think Your Marketing Has an AI Agent? Think Again!

Marketers are being promised AI agents that run campaigns while they sleep. Reality check: most of these so-called "agents" are just automated workflows. In Growth Snacks #2, Gamal breaks down:

✅ The difference between AI workflows and true AI agents✅ Why most marketing “AI agents” are just glorified automations✅ How to actually leverage AI for smarter, more efficient workflows

Don’t fall for the hype. If your AI tool can’t act without you, it’s just a workflow—not an agent. 💡 Perfect for: Performance marketers • Digital strategists • Anyone exploring AI in marketing 🎧 Follow for more practical insights on building smarter, data-driven marketing. 📩 Join the Reach 4 Growth community — where modern marketers get real about AI.